GOVERNMENT STRENGTHENS RESIDENTIAL TENANCY LAWS

Housing Minister Nick Smith announced plans to strengthen residential tenancy laws, including requirements for landlords to provide smoke alarms and insulation, and to declare the standard of insulation on tenancy agreements.

Main residential tenancy law changes

All rental properties must be insulated by July 2019, though exemptions apply to properties where it is physically impractical to retrofit insulation.

Smoke alarms must be installed in all rentals from July 2016, but tenants will be responsible for replacing batteries and notifying landlords of defects.

New powers to prosecute landlords for breaking tenancy regulations, particularly where there is risk to tenants' health and safety.

The changes also ensure tenants can take concerns to the Tenancy Tribunal without fear of retaliatory evictions.